Cayetano takes oath before Cebuano crowd

Saying Cebu had inspired him with a  vote of confidence, re-elected Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano took his oath of office at the University of the Visayas main campus yesterday.

With his wife Taguig City Mayor Laarni as Bible bearer, Cayetano was sworn in  by UV owner and outgoing Cebu 1st district  Rep. Eduardo Gullas.

“It was very hard for me to pick who would administer the oath of office. Then when I looked at the options, that was when I heard that Gullas wasn’t elected mayor; but he has always been one of my idols in public service,” Cayetano said.

“The honor of taking oath in UV and in Cebu is all mine, not yours,” he told Gullas during his speech.

Gullas is a member of the Nacionalista Party which allied with the Liberal Party under Team PNoy during the May midterm elections.

Cebu delivered 975,000 votes for Cayetano  who landed third place  among the 12 senators elected in the country.

Cayetano topped the list of senatorial candidates in Cebu City Cebu City with 245,000 votes and 600,000 votes in Cebu province.

In his speech, Cayetano said he will introduce  a “CEBU” brand of standard for newly elected officials– Commitment, Empowerment, Betterment and Unity.

“We must be committed to our work, we must empower the people and look out for their betterment and we must unite even if we are from opposing parties,” Cayetano said.

The senator, who will also be sworn in by President Benigno Aquino III in the Palace on June 27, said the country needs unity among its elected officials even if they come from opposing parties.

“To witness a simple oath taking, we are united here even if we may be from different parties,” Cayetano said while pointing to re-elected Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and outgoing Vice Mayor Joy Young in the audience.

Other officials who attended the event were Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, Gullas’s grandson, Rep.-elect Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. and Provincial Board (PB) member Julian Daan.

Outgoing Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Arturo Radaza also attended the event accompanied by his wife Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza.

Cayetano’s brother Taguig 2nd Dist. Rep. Lino Cayetano attended the event. His sister Sen. Pia Cayetano was not around.

“Cebu City and Cebu Province have inspired us. Allow us to inspire you back,” he said.

Cayetano said he will propose to conduct Senate sessions in Visayas and Mindanao.

“Cities outside Metro Manila are as important as Metro Manila,” he said.

Cayetano said he was inspired by Rama’s mantra to bring the government to the people.

The senator also said he still has no plans to run for president three years from now. /Jose Santino S. Bunachita, Correspondent